‘When Clare win, we all win,’ says Davy Fitz

This week’s Clare Champion includes a very special, 16-page souvenir supplement to mark Clare’s success in the All-Ireland Hurling Final. In this supplement we talk to Tony Kelly, Brian Lohan, Shane O’Donnell, John Conlon, Conor Cleary, Cathal Malone, Eibhear Quilligan, Brendan Bugler, Pat O’Donnell, Tommy Corbett, Deirdre Murphy, Davy Fitzgerald and many more. We also have all the colour from before, during and after the game, the excitement from the homecoming events on Monday night and a souvenir team poster. This collector’s item is in the shops now.
Below, Derek Dormer chats to Davy Fitz.

The man who led Clare to their last All Ireland title in 2013 is over the moon and thoroughly enjoyed the day supporting his beloved County with his family.
Davy, who highlighted Cork’s puck-out strategy against Limerick as a key factor in their semi-final success, feels Clare got their tactics spot on and all players and management deserve huge credit.
“Firstly it was just an incredible day and the hurling was unbelievable. I did think it would be free scoring and by God it was. There was some magical displays and TK [Tony Kelly] gave a masterclass. I’m absolutely delighted for him. He has a touch of genius about him and his overall performance was a massive factor in deciding the outcome. It shows the man he is to come back from injury and deliver on the biggest day.
“Every one of the players delivered. Eibhear was assured and his puck-outs and overall use of the ball was far more effective than Cork’s. Conor Cleary looked to be in trouble early with a yellow card as well but by God did he give it everything.
“The two corner-backs were phenomenal. Adam Hogan in his second year was immense but I thought Conor Leen was exceptional.
“The half-back line were well on top and John Conlon held the centre making sure there was no gaps for Cork to exploit.”
The man who guided Waterford to an opening round victory over the rebels couldn’t believe that Cork left three inside and feels that tactically Clare outsmarted Cork.
“I couldn’t understand why Cork left three inside in the full forward line which just seemed to clog up the space for them. Also in the first half they let David Fitzgerald lose and he got on the world of ball. How they didn’t get someone to track him I just don’t know.
“We were down seven points and looked in real bother but nobody tracked Fitzgerald and himself and SOD (Shane O’Donnell) dragged us back into the game at the end of the opening quarter.”
The three time All Star winner feels Cork were fortunate to bring the game to extra time and the Clare forwards delivered on the day.
“ All year and in the build up I said that Clare have a top eight as good as anything in the country. Those top eight players were brilliant and we looked like getting goals all afternoon.
“We just ran at the Cork defence far more than Cork ran at us and it paid off. Mark Rodgers scored an exceptional goal and wasn’t Tony’s goal just magic.”
This was the first time Davy got to wear his Clare colours and support the county he loves with his family and it’s a day he won’t forget.
“ I grew up loving Clare and almost 25 years of my life have been with the Clare Senior hurling team. It was so special to be in the stand with my family watching Clare win an All Ireland.
“When Clare win, we all win and Brian Lohan and his management team deserve huge credit. It’s well known that we don’t get along but sometimes the picture is bigger than just two people.
“Brian and his management team would have came in for criticism over the last few years but any person who wins an All-Ireland deserves credit so a huge congratulations to all involved on just an amazing day for the County and the people of Clare.”